Well, we made it! After six months of soul destroying living in Milton Keynes we’ve finally got some payback. I’m sitting on the balcony with a view to die for, blogging on my iPad having just walked into Chamonix for some supplies and to drool over the latest running gear – what more can a girl ask for?
We arrived a week ago but Milton Keynes seems like a lifetime ago. It surprising how quickly we slotted back into Chamonix life – we literally unpacked a couple of bags and walked into Chamonix and that was that. I suppose it’s not actually that surprising as we’ve spent more time here since 2007 than anywhere else and we consider it our home. Chamonix has everything we need, from trails on the doorstep to welcoming coffee shops and stunning views.
We’re doing some different things this time though. As most of you are already aware from previous blogs and prolific tweeting we previously spent 6 months here in 2010 & 2008. This year is different – instead of giving up our place in the UK we decided to keep it on and only come for 10 weeks. It’s risky because 10 weeks is not nearly long enough to be ‘home’ but we get the advantage of not having to find somewhere to live when our time is up. We’ll see how it pans out but I suspect we’ll be back for 6 months again next year!
We’ve also come out with a lot less stuff – I’m down to 5 tee shirts and 2 running kits! Although the car was still full on the drive over least we could see out of the rear window and make it up the alpine passes to get here in one piece.
Our first ride was awesome. We were worried about fitness as you just cannot prepare for the rigours of the alps whilst working full time in the UK. But we were OK – we made it up the steep hills and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My first run was also fabulous. I ran about 5k in the sunshine along the L’Arveyon river and up to Les Bois – scrambling over rocks and streams deep in the forest and taking the single track route to the bread van for the all important baguette.
Today is an enforced rest day as my legs are empty. Yesterday I ran 7k up through Les Bois to Les Tines and back down through Paradis de Praz. Then Mr R took his new bike out for a ‘proper’ downhill ride from Le Merlet while I raced him by car to pick him up at the end of the run – he won! So the rest of today will consist of some sunbathing, social networking and eating – heaven!
